The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-25
A NEW STEAM ENGINE.
"A Novel Invention by Cincinnati Mana
Thorough Test to Be Made.

Cincinnati Commercial Gazette.
Some months since the Commercial Gazette
noticed an invention By Cincnnatian in a mod
est way. and upon completion of small model
engine which illustrates it was invited to see 1t
IN working order. Since then the inventor. Mr..
L. ID. Speer, of this city, has consummated
arrangements with a very prominent New York
CAPITALIST to introduce the invention practically
Plans we're laid before scientific experts. and
many consultations were held respecting their
feasibility, resulting at last in conclusions favor
able TO one of the most wonderful inventions of
the age The New York Sun of Monday says:
IA we'll known yachtman IN this city has just
signed a contract by which he agrees to furnish
the money for building very novel sort of
steam engine. the inventor proposes to do no
less than to construct engine which will
exhaust back into the boiler instead of into a
condenser or into the open air. He proposes. IN
other words, that when the steam has pushed
the piston through the full length of its stroke
the piston shall then push the steam back into
the boiler again. This sounds like the absurd
proposition to build perpetual motion machine,
but as the machine is explained by the inventor
and the yachrman it seems to be easily possible
and perhaps practical Because the practical
bility of the scheme has yet 10 be tested the
yachtman declines to allow his name to be used.
THE new machine consists of four single
acting cylinders placed two on each side of the
shaft To be turned by them. The two cylinders
on each side, according to the present drawing,
will be placed horizontally and one above the
other, like the barrels of doublebarrel shot
gun when the gun is lying its side. The
plstons in these cylinders are connected with
the shaft in such way that the piston in the
upper cylinder one side works In conjunction
with the piston in the lower cylinder the op-
posite side. Steam being admitted to either
pair of cylinders. which thus act together, the
pstons forced out the end of their stroke
as in any single acting engine. and the shaft
wolves half a turn AT the instant these pis-
tons reach the end of the stroke they are, by
means of cogs, two cams and link notion un-
coupled from the shaft and connected with each
other substantially They then become TO all
intents and purposes one piston, with the steam
from the boiler pressing equally each side
and therefore balanced. The moment this hap
pens the pistons of the other two cylinders
coupled to the shaft, and the steam sends them
flying to the end of their stroke. thus keeping
the shaft whrling. and at the same time SHOW
ing the other two plstons now equally balanced,
to the heads of their cylinders. The second pair
are uncoupled, and in turn treated the first
pair were.
THE theory, the yachtman SAYS is all right
But the intervention of cogs link motion, ard
two cams may make the machine somewhat
cum bersome, and, perhaps slow m otioned. That
1t will be noisy is beyond dispute, but it is worth
trying, the yachtman thinks, to the extent of
the $40, 900 which the trial machine is likely to
cost, because if the steam be exhausted back
into the boiler the loss from friction. radiation,
ETC., will be small that from seventy to eighty
per cent. of the fuel now used to drive o steam
en- CINE will be saved"
The inventor has been At his Office by the
reporter of the Commercial Gazette and states
the engine, contrary to the above article in the
Sun. is perfectly noseless, free of all complica-
tionS, has rapid movement 600 to 500 feet
piston speed. and perfectly adapted to any loco
motive, stationary marine engine.